Gas fueled igniter



March 4, 1969 I R. D. REED GAS FUELED IGNITER Filed May 26, 1967 INIVENTOR ROBERT D. REED United States Patent 3,431,057 GAS FUELED IGNITER Robert D. Reed, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to John Zink Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 26, 1967, Ser. No. 641,671 US. Cl. 431-263 3 Claims Int. Cl. F23q 7/10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ignition device formed principally of an elongated tubular element into which a gas-air mixture is supplied. A partition extends lengthwise within the tubular element which serves to separate the gaseous mixture moving through the device into two portions. Ignition of the portion of the gas-air mixture at one side of the partition provides ignition for both portions at the downstream end of the partition. The device serves as an ignition device for various type burners.

The present invention relates to an ignition device for fuel burners and more specifically pertains to a pilot type burner which may be employed for initiating operation of a main burner and the device has particular utility for kindling the burner head at the top of a flare stack.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention pertains to an ignition device and may serve as a pilot. The device includes an elongated tubular element which may be disposed in a generally upright position. A partition extends throughout substantially the entire length of the tubular element and divides it into two elongated passages. Means for developing an arc is provided. in one of the passages so that a gaseous mixture therein is ignited and this burning mixture moves downstream in its passage and at the downstream end of the partition the flame ignites the gaseous mixture from the other passage.

Additional features and objects of the invention will be appreciated and will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an ignition device exhibiting the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

The invention is directed to an ignition device for fuel burners and has particular utility for kindling of the op eration of the burners located remotely of an operator and may be employed for initiating combustion at the upper end of a flare stack. The ignition device may be disposed in a generally upright manner as shown in FIG. 1 and includes a tubular element 10 of any desired crosssection and in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of a generally cylindrical conduit. The tubular element 10 is of elongated construction and a flange 11 is provided near the upper or downstream end. The inwardly disposed flange 11 is provided with a central opening 12 which is of smaller cross-sectional area than the interior of the tubular element 10. A row of circumferentially spaced ports 14 may be provided in the flange 11 as shown in FIG. 3.

A partition 16 is provided within the tubular element 10 and it extends throughout the major portion of the length thereof. The partition 16 may be attached to the 3,431,057 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 tubular element 10 in any suitable manner such as by welding. The downstream end 17 of the partition 16 terminates short of a nozzle portion 18 at the upper end of the tubular element 10. The partition 16 divides the tubular element into side-by-side elongated passages 21 and 22.

Any type of means may be provided for delivering a gaseous fuel mixture into the upstream end 23 of the tubular element 10. In the embodiment illustrated an atmospheric aspirator serves to provide a gaseous fuel mixture. The gas is supplied through a pipe 26 and is released through an orifice 27 into the throat of the member 28. The low pressure developed by the gas escaping from the orifice 27 serves to draw air into a member 28 in a wellknown manner and the gas and air is mixed to provide an ignitable mixture. This mixture is delivered into the tubular element 10 at a velocity of at least twenty-five feet per second. The rate of movement of the gas-air mixture through both passages 21 and 22 is greater than the speed of flame propagation of the fuel.

Any suitable means may be provided for developing an are within one of the passages within the tubular element 10. An electrical arc may be developed by a spark-plug 31 mounted on the tubular element 10 with the electrodes disposed within the passage 21 as shown in FIG. 1. The are generating means is preferably located near the lower portion of the tubular element 10.

In operation and when an ignitable mixture is released for movement through the tubular element 10 an arc is developed across the electrodes of the spark plug 31. The are ignites the gaseous mixture within 'the passage 21 and a flame is developed by combustion of this portion of the gas-air mixture. The rate of movement of the gaseous mixture in the passage 21 is greater than the speed of the flame propagation. The flame produced in the passage 21 moves downstream therein and passes through the central opening 12 in the nozzle 18. The other portion of the ignitable mixture moving through the passage 22 is shielded from the flame and this portion of the gas-air mixture does not come in contact with the flame until it arrives beyond the downstream end 17 of the partition 16. The flame which moves through the passage 21 ignites the unignited portion of the gaseous mixture so that ignition of all of the gas-air mixture takes place in the area indicated at 33.

The flame within the passage 21 exhausts the fuel therein to produce combustion-inert gases. These inert gases are quickly purged from the passage 21 by the gasair mixture which follows therethrough. Therafter the gaseous mixture moving through both passages 21 and 22 contains ignitable gases which burn adjacent the upper or downstream end of the tubular element 10. After the inerts have been purged from the passage 21 the gas-air mixture burns stably in the area 33.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific structural features and with regard to one organization of elements, it will be appreciated that changes may be made in the components as well as in the overall assembly. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ignition device for fuel burners, an elongated tubular element, a downstream end on said tubular element, a partition within said tubular element extending throughout a major portion of the length thereof dividing it into side-by-side first and second passages, means supplying an ignitable mixture into the upstream end of said tubular element at pressures to move the mixture through both of said passages at rates greater than the speed of flame propagation of said mixture, means remote of the downstream end of said tubular element for developing an are in the first of said passages igniting the mixture therein whereby the flame within the first passage moves beyond the downstream end of said partition to ignite the mixture escaping from the second passage, a flange within the tubular element positioned downstream of said partition, and said flange having a central opening therethrough of smaller area than the interior of said tubular element.

2. In an ignition device for a fuel burner according to claim 1 wherein the tubular element is provided with a nozzle portion forming the downstream end of the device and which projects beyond the downstream end of the partition.

3. In an ignition device for a fuel burner according to claim 1 wherein the tubular element is cylindrically shaped and the partition is disposed diametrically therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. HARRY B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner. 

